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Royal Central School
of Speech and Drama

The Embassy Theatre, home of the school
Other names	Central, Royal Central, CSSD, RCSSD
Former names	Central School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art, Central School of Speech and Drama
Type	Drama school and public university conservatoire
Established	1906; 118 years ago (1906) 2005: Incorporated into the University of London
Founder	Elsie Fogerty
Parent institution	University of London
Affiliation	Conservatoires UK Federation of Drama Schools
Budget	£19.4m (2016/17)
Chairman	John Willis
Chancellor	Anne, Princess Royal (University of London)
President	Sonia Friedman
Vice-president	Maggie Aderin-Pocock Anne Mensah Ben Okri Jenny Sealey Zoë Wanamaker
Vice-Chancellor	Wendy Thomson (University of London)
Principal	Josette Bushell-Mingo
Patron	Princess Alexandra
Students	1,010 (2022/23)
Undergraduates	625 (2022/23)
Postgraduates	385 (2022/23)
Address	Embassy Theatre, Eton Avenue, London, NW3 3HY, England, United Kingdom 51°32′39″N 0°10′26″W / 51.5442°N 0.1738°W / 51.5442; -0.1738
Campus	Urban
Colours	Red
Website	www.cssd.ac.uk

The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, commonly shortened to Central, is a drama school founded by Elsie Fogerty in 1906, as the Central School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art, to offer a new form of training in speech and drama for young actors and other students. It became a constituent college of the University of London in 2005 and is a member of Conservatoires UK and the Federation of Drama Schools.

Courses

The school offers undergraduate, postgraduate, research degrees and short courses in acting, actor training, applied theatre, theatre crafts and making, design, drama therapy, movement, musical theatre, performance, producing, research, scenography, stage management, teacher training, technical arts, voice and writing.

History

In 2006, the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art was absorbed into Central.

On 29 November 2012, the 'Royal' title was bestowed on the school by Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of its reputation as a "world-class institution for exceptional professional training in theatre and performance studies". It is entitled to use it in official documentation, although it continues to be colloquially referred to as "Central". The school's Patron, Princess Alexandra of Kent, played a role in recommending the institution for the title.

Buildings

The school is located at Swiss Cottage in north London, an area which is being redeveloped as a "civic and cultural quarter" which includes a new extension building for the school, replacing 1960s accommodation. The school's theatre is located inside the new building, which was awarded a BREEAM rating of "very good".

Administration

Past presidents of the school include Laurence Olivier, Peggy Ashcroft and Judi Dench. In October 2008 Harold Pinter, who attended the school in 1950–51, became its president, succeeding Peter Mandelson. He was to receive an honorary fellowship in December 2008, but had to receive it in absentia because of ill health; he died two weeks later. Michael Grandage was president from 2009 to 2022. Theatre producer and Central graduate Sonia Friedman was appointed after Grandage stepped down from the role.

Former presidents

• Laurence Olivier (1983 to 1989)
• Peggy Ashcroft (1989 to 1992)
• Judi Dench (1992 to 1997)
• Peter Mandelson (2001 to 2008)
• Harold Pinter (2008)
• Michael Grandage (2009 to 2022)

Research

In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise the majority of Central's submission was judged "world leading" or "internationally excellent". The school has been ranked sixth in its league of specialist institutions by The Guardian, and ninth for drama and dance.

The school has over 20 doctoral candidates. The first PhD was awarded in 2010.

Alumni

References

1. "Where Our Money Comes From" (PDF). Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (University of London). Retrieved 13 December 2018.
2. ^ "Where do HE students study?". Higher Education Statistics Agency. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
3. Granger, Rachel. "Rapid Scoping Study on Leicester Drama School" (PDF). De Montfort University Leicester. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
4. "Courses". The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
5. "Central School of Speech and Drama celebrates new Royal Title". Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (University of London). Archived from the original on 7 April 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
6. "Page on Central School building". Ellis and Moore Consulting Engineers.
7. ^ Alistair Smith (14 October 2008). "Pinter Replaces Mandelson as Central President". The Stage. Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Archived 12 June 2011.
8. "Central Announces New President" (Press release). Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (University of London). 9 October 2008. Archived from the original on 28 December 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
9. "Degree Honour for Playwright Pinter". Press Association (Hosted by Google). 11 December 2008. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
10. "Central's 2008 Graduation Ceremony". Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (University of London). 12 December 2008. Archived from the original on 29 December 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2009. Honorary Fellowships for Harold Pinter, Jo Brand and Penny Francis.
11. Mark Taylor-Batty, comp. "In Memoriam". Harold Pinter Society Webpages. The Harold Pinter Society and the University of Leeds. Archived from the original on 10 February 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2009. Harold Pinter – playwright, poet, actor, director, political activist – died on 24 December 2008, aged 78.
12. Fisk, Hattie (13 October 2022). "Michael Grandage CBE to step down as Central's president". Drama and Theatre. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
13. "Sonia Friedman appointed president of Royal Central School of Speech and Drama". The Stage. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
14. "Sonia Friedman OBE Announced as the new President of Central". The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. 17 November 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
15. "University guide 2011: Specialist institutions league table". The Guardian. London. 8 June 2010.
16. "University guide 2011: Drama and dance". The Guardian. London. 8 June 2010.
17. "Student profiles". Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (University of London).
18. "Central awards its first PhD". Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (University of London). 12 January 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2011.

External links

• "Education Guide" (Higher Education) in The Guardian
• Official website The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama – Official Website

v t e University of London
Institutions	Birkbeck Brunel City Courtauld Institute of Art Goldsmiths Institute of Cancer Research King's College London London Business School London School of Economics London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Queen Mary Royal Academy of Music Royal Central School of Speech and Drama Royal Holloway Royal Veterinary College St George's School of Oriental and African Studies University College London
Central bodies and programmes	Senate House Libraries School of Advanced Study Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Institute of Classical Studies Institute of Commonwealth Studies Institute of English Studies Institute of Historical Research Centre for Metropolitan History Institute of Latin American Studies Institute of Modern Languages Research Institute of Philosophy Warburg Institute University of London Institute in Paris University of London Worldwide
People	Chancellor: The Princess Royal Vice-Chancellor: Wendy Thomson Visitor: The Lord President of the Council (Lucy Powell) Academics Alumni List of heads of colleges List of University of London people
Places and buildings	Bloomsbury Gordon Square Halls of residence College Hall Connaught Hall International Hall Nutford House Malet Street Russell Square Senate House Tavistock Square Torrington Square Woburn Square
History	Institutions Bedford College Chelsea College of Science and Technology Heythrop College Imperial College Institute of Education Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience Institute for the Study of the Americas London Consortium New College Queen Elizabeth College Regent's Park College Royal Postgraduate Medical School School of Pharmacy School of Slavonic and East European Studies University Marine Biological Station Millport St Thomas's Hospital Medical School Westfield College Wye College Buildings 6 Burlington Gardens Church of Christ the King Halls of residence Commonwealth Hall Hughes Parry Hall Parliamentary constituency General Examination for Women Privileged bodies of the United Kingdom
Other	Academic dress The Careers Group London Student University of London Boat Club University of London Computer Centre University of London Press University of London Union
Category Commons

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51°32′39″N 0°10′26″W / 51.5442°N 0.1738°W / 51.5442; -0.1738

• 1906 establishments in England
• Drama schools in London
• Educational institutions established in 1906
• Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
• Universities UK
• University of London